LAHORE, Oct 13: Despite a fighting knock by Shoaib Khan and fine bowling by Jalat Khan, unfancied Quetta Bears suffered a heartbreaking four-run defeat against Islamabad Leopards in the Faysal Bank National Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Wednesday. Set to a target of 150, Shoaib Khan almost guided Bears home with an enterprising knock of 66 off 46 balls with 11 fours one six. But Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar removed Shoaib and Abid Ali (20) to end their hopes. Bismillah Khan (29) was the second highest run-getter for the Bears.
Shoaib Akhtar finished with two for 27.Earlier, slow left-armer Jalat grabbed 4-22 as the Leopards were restricted to 149-7. Raheel Majeed (45) and Umair Khan (27) contributed useful runs.
Peshawar Panthers lost their third consecutive match when they went down by six wickets against Abbottabad Falcons.
The Panthers folded up for 124 with only Haroon Ahmed making a respectable 33.
The Falcons, who had lost their previous two games, achieved the target in 18.4 overs thanks to Adnan Raees who hit 58 off 47 balls – a knock that included five fours and one six.
In Tuesday's night fixture, the Panthers lost to Lahore Lions by 36 runs.
The Lions piled up 206-4 with Nasir Jamshed (70 off 49 balls, eight fours and two sixes), Ahmed Shahzad (69 off 37 balls, 12 fours and one six) and Umar Akmal (52 off 29 balls, eight boundaries) mauling the hapless Panthers bowling.
The Panthers made 170 in reply with Test discard Younus Khan scoring 31 and Zohaib Khan 35. Wahab Riaz took three wickets for 15.
Meanwhile, Lahore Lions and Multan Tigers were playing in the vital Group 'A' fixture at the time of filing this report. The winners of this will qualify for the semi-finals. Summarised scores:
Abbottabad Falcons beat Peshawar Panthers by four wickets.
PESHAWAR PANTHERS 124 in 20 over: (Haroon Ahmed 33; Yasir Shah 3-15, Raja Nadeem 2-14, Khalid Usman 2-23, Nabeeullah 2-32); ABBOTTABAD FALCONS: 124-4 in 18.4 overs: (Adnan Raees 58, Ahmed Said 25 not out; Zohaib Khan 2-20).
Islamabad Leopards beat Quetta Bears by four runs.
ISLAMABAD LEOPORDS 149-7 in 20 overs (Raheel Majeed 45, Umair Khan 27, Naeem Anjum 24; Jalat Khan 4-22); QUETTA BEARS 145-5 in 20 overs (Shoaib Khan 66, Abid Ali 20; Shoaib Akhtar 2-27).
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